Spousal Support (Alimony): Types and Eligibility

Alimony isn't awarded automatically in every divorce, and when it is, it comes in several distinct forms designed for different situations — understanding the difference matters for both the paying and receiving spouse.

Common Types of Spousal Support

Temporary support covers the period while a divorce is pending, helping maintain the household's status quo until the case is finalized.

Rehabilitative support is time-limited and intended to help a lower-earning spouse become self-supporting, often through education or job training, while permanent or long-term support is reserved for longer marriages or situations where a spouse is unlikely to become self-supporting.

Factors Courts Consider

Courts generally weigh the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, the standard of living established during the marriage, age and health of each spouse, and contributions one spouse made to the other's career or education.

A spouse who left the workforce to raise children or support a spouse's career is often given particular consideration, since that choice affects their own long-term earning capacity.

Modifying or Terminating Support

Most alimony orders can be modified if there's a significant change in circumstances, such as job loss, retirement, or a significant increase in the recipient's income.

Support typically ends upon the recipient's remarriage and, in many states, can be reduced or ended if the recipient begins cohabiting with a new partner in a marriage-like relationship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is alimony guaranteed in every divorce?

No — it depends on the length of the marriage, the income disparity between spouses, and state-specific guidelines, and is not awarded in every case.

Is alimony taxable?

Under current federal tax law, alimony is generally not deductible by the payer or taxable to the recipient for agreements executed after 2018, a significant change from the prior rules.

Spousal support calculations involve significant judgment and vary widely by state. An attorney can help you understand what's realistic in your situation, whether you're seeking or facing a support claim.